Children's Home run by Blue Elephant Childcare Limited in Devon

Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 1 Registered provider: Blue Elephant Childcare Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home was registered in February 2023 and provides care for up to three children who are in crisis. It is owned and managed by a private locally-based organisation that operates several other homes in the area. No children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home is registered by Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 2

p.1

Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 3

p.2

improvement to be good

The home is spacious but homely; it is decorated, furnished and maintained to a high standard. At the time of the inspection, no children were living in the home. Children are given the option to personalise their rooms, and preparations are underway to do this for a child who is due to move in. The outside space is well maintained.

p.3

improvement to be good

Daily logs provide a good view of children’s daily lives. Conversations between carers and children provide guidance and support. Carers are inquisitive and identify when to have targeted, sensitive conversations with children. Carers prompt and support children to undertake activities in the community. However, children have limited routine and spend extended time in their rooms.

p.3

improvement to be good

Carers seek children’s views in relation to the care they receive. Some documents reflect the voice of the child. Several documents are written in the first-person narrative from the child’s perspective. These were not the words of the child but an interpretation of what they had said.

p.3

improvement to be good

Carers support children to attend school or engage in tutoring. They have advocated for a child, supporting their views in relation to their education. When children are not attending full-time education, carers support children to complete limited amounts of informal education.

p.3

improvement to be good

Carers understand children’s health needs. Children are encouraged to attend appointments and are provided with the advice they require to make healthier choices. Carers use the psychological team for guidance and advice. When one child had specific needs in relation to their health, carers promoted their engagement with a specialist service.

p.3

improvement to be good

When considering if this is the right home for a child, planning is weak. Consideration is given to whether the area is suitable for the child. However, there is no analysis of the needs of individual children and the positives and risks of children living together. There is no consideration of carers’ skill sets in relation to the type of care a child may require. On realising that they were not provided with the adequate information in respect of a child who lived at the home, carers have challenged the local authority effectively.

p.3

improvement to be good

Risk assessments aim to provide children with the protection and support that they require. When carers are concerned that new risks are forming, or that risk is increasing, chronologies and safety plans are devised. The risk assessment for one Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 4 child includes non-existent or irrelevant risks. In some assessments, the responsibility for managing risk is placed on the child.

p.3

improvement to be good

Placement plans provide good overall insight into the child. They are clear and well written. Plans that are devised to guide carers when supporting children to manage their behaviours and manage emotions are also well written, and one plan includes the child’s voice.

p.4

improvement to be good

Incident reports provide a clear narrative of what happened during the incident. Carers generally take appropriate action to protect children and de-escalate incidents. However, in relation to protecting one child, revised guidance devised with the aim of preventing repeated incidents has not been effective. Carers have not followed updated guidance and protocols, and management has not taken action to enforce them. This inaction led to further prolonged and serious incidents.

p.4

improvement to be good

Restraint is used to de-escalate incidents and keep children safe. On one occasion, the use of restraint could have been prevented if action to manage the incident had been implemented sooner.

p.4

improvement to be good

Professionals provided positive feedback in respect of the home. They reported that communication is good. Carers partake in multi-agency meetings and share information in a timely manner. One professional highlighted that the registered manager is inquisitive and wants to learn from others.

p.4

improvement to be good

Difficulties in children’s relationships are recognised. Carers address concerns promptly and have meaningful conversations with children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

The home is managed by a registered manager who wants the best for children and values the team around her. The management team wants to learn and develop its practice and that of its team in order to meet children’s needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

The registered manager accepted that during the inspection, they created one piece of evidence to meet the evidence requested by the inspector. They accepted that they also added management oversight to a historic document to fit the evidence that had been requested. This raised concerns about the integrity of the manager.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

Carers are positive about the time and support they receive from the management team. Carers have a variety of skills and experience; however, the team is relatively new. This can negatively impact on the consistency of care that carers provide to children. This is recognised by the team and management, and a plan is in place to develop working relationships. During the inspection, a team day took place, and the inspector observed a wide variety of team-building exercises and work-related tasks.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

The quality of debriefs is inconsistent. Carers receive thorough and reflective debriefs. Conversations to reflect on incidents with children are limited, and records provide no details of the discussion with children. These discussions were not easily Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 5 identifiable. This is likely to result in missed opportunities to reflect on, gain and act on children’s experiences and views.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

Supervision is provided to carers on a regular basis. Supervision is reflective. There is a clear focus on children and the well-being of carers. When management has had concerns about carers’ practice, these are openly and respectfully discussed. When a carer has raised concerns about another carer, these have been appropriately addressed. Actions are clear and are revisited.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

Team meetings take place regularly. Records provide the reader with a good insight into the discussions that take place. Discussions cover the needs of children and the running of the home. Attendance from the psychology team adds depth to discussion and supports team learning and development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

Concerns about carers’ practice are investigated thoroughly. The home has safer recruitment practices in place. Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.6

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that efforts are made to provide children with routine and stimulation other than their phones and their bedrooms. 15 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 7 The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(v))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children who do not attend the required learning are provided with informal educational activities. 15 September

p.7

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments are up to date and contain the correct information. Ensure that risks are present and relevant to the child.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that if the responsibility for managing risk is placed on a child, that the child is capable of carrying out the assigned action and has agreed to do so, marking this clearly on the plan. 15 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 8 In addition, ensure that all carers are aware of and work in line with children’s plans, particularly any updates to children’s care planning and assessments following incidents.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.8

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.8

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that planning before agreeing for a child to move to the home is thoroughly completed and recorded. This must include consideration of all children’s needs and the skill set of carers. 15 September

p.8

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.8

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 15 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 9 understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.9

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that carers provide children with consistency of care from the whole team. This should include the setting and implementing of boundaries and routines.

p.9

Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that children are spoken to following incidents, supporting them to reflect on their own and other’s actions. Ensure that the content of these conversations is recorded to allow for reflection and development of practice.

p.9

Requirement Due date

In addition, records of conversations with children following incidents should be identifiable and accessible.

p.9

Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character. (Regulation 28 (1)(a))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that she displays integrity at all times. She must not add or change records for the benefit of an Ofsted inspection or for any other reason. 15 September

p.9

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, carefully consider the appropriateness of recording the child’s information using a first-person narrative. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 10

p.9

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blue Elephant Childcare Ltd

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 30, Chivenor Business Park, Barnstaple EX31 4FT

p.11

Inspector

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2715196 12 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.11

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.12